CLASSIFICATION OF AMERICAN WHEAT VARIETIES. 



175 



Fia 70. — Outline map of the 

 western United States, 

 showing the distribution 

 of Little Club wheat in 

 1919. Estimated area, 

 106,100 acres. 



It was reported grown in Yolo County, Calif., in 1878 (53, p. 339). According 

 to Byron Hunter {12J,, p. 24), Little Club was probably one of the first varieties 

 of wheat grown in the Columbia Basin of Oregon. For years it was the leading 

 wheat in the Palouse district and continues to be a leading wheat grown along 

 the foothills of the Blue Mountains in Oregon. In this section it often is fall 

 sown, as it usually will stand the winters, though not as well as true winter 

 varieties. It is now less extensively grown than 

 formerly because of the introduction of more suit- 

 able varieties. 



Distribution. — Little Club is grown in Arizona, 

 California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, 

 and Washington. (Fig. 70.) 



Synonym.— Small Club. 



BIG CLUB. 



Description. — Plant spring habit, midseason, mid- 

 tall to tall ; stem white, curved, strong, stout ; spike 

 awnless, elliptical to clavate, dense, erect; glumes 

 glabrous, white, midlong, midwide; shoulders mid- 

 wide, usually rounded; beaks wide, obtuse, 0.5 

 mm. long; apical awns few, 2 to 5 mm. long; 

 kernels white, short, soft, nearly oval; humped; 

 germ small ; crease narrow, shallow ; cheeks usually 

 angular ; brush small, midlong. 



Big Club differs from Little Club in having 

 wider, shorter, and thicker spikes, in having curved 

 peduncles, and wider and rounder kernels. The shape of the spike is very sim- 

 ilar to that of Hybrid 128. Spikes, glumes, and kernels of Big Club wheat are 

 shown in Plate L, B. 



History. — Big Club wheat is reported to have been introduced into Oregon 

 about 1870 from Chile (10). The variety was first known as Chile Club and 

 Oregon Club. It was evidently first grown in Cali- 

 fornia, for in 1866 Chile Club was reported to be 

 " remarkably well adapted to the soil and climate " 

 of that State (8|, p. 586). 



The name Big Club has been used for the variety only 

 during the last 10 to 15 years, and it probably came into 

 use to distinguish it from Little Club. 



Distribution. — Big Club is grown in California, Idaho, 

 Montana, Oregon, Utah, and Washington. (Fig. 71.) 



Synonyms. — Big Four, Chile Club, Crookneck Club, 

 Montezuma Club, Oregon Club, Salt Lake Club. Big 

 Four is a name under which Big Club wheat is known 

 in the State of Idaho. Chile Club is the name under 

 which this wheat was first grown in the United States. 

 It has become best known under this name in Cali- 

 fornia. Crookneck Club is the name which became ap- 

 plied to Big Club wheat because of the distinct crooks 

 or curves which usually occur in the upper portion of 

 the peduncle. Montezuma Club is a name for Big Club wheat in California. 

 Oregon Club is a name which was early used for Big Club in the State of 

 Oregon. It was widely known by that name in the seventies. Salt Lake Club 

 is a name which became used for Big Club wheat in the State of Utah. How 

 and when the name originated is not known. 



Fig. 71. — Outline map 

 of the Pacific and 

 Basin areas, showing 

 the distribution of 

 Big Club wheat in 

 1919. Estimated 

 area, 21,700 acres. 



